Anyone used a Garmin Edge?

"MattB" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I've been thinking about a new GPS for a while, as well as a new bike
computer (yes, I know some of you think they are stupid) and I see Garmin
makes a couple of units designed to be bike computers. I like the idea,
and it would make switching between bikes easier because I wouldn't have
to remember to reset the wheel size.
I'm thinking the Edge 205 would be plenty. The 305 also has a HRM and
cadence sensor which I doubt I'd ever use.
Any first-hand experiences out there?

Thanks,
Matt

no experience with this particular model but I use an Etrex Legend (about
$100 less expensive). In reading the Garmin website it seems like there's
not much difference other than the virtual racer function and software that
allows training input. All else appears to allow similar inputs for mapping
but not sure about the extent of allowable mapping for say a car trip.
Looks to have better reception capabilities which is a plus since I've lost
signal on tree canopy covered rides. I don't like the internal LI battery
and would rather have AA's but that's just me. On a long week of mtbing the
Li battery would need to be recharged, sometimes not practical.

I wish my GPS had a USB interface since most of the newer computers don't
have serial ports any more.......can you say expensive adapter?

Gary

MattB said:

I've been thinking about a new GPS for a while, as well as a new bike
computer (yes, I know some of you think they are stupid) and I see
Garmin makes a couple of units designed to be bike computers. I like the
idea, and it would make switching between bikes easier because I
wouldn't have to remember to reset the wheel size.
I'm thinking the Edge 205 would be plenty. The 305 also has a HRM and
cadence sensor which I doubt I'd ever use.
Any first-hand experiences out there?

Thanks,
Matt

Hi Matt,
i use the Edge 305 since 3 weeks. I use it together with the
cadence/wheel sensor which increases its reception highly especially
under tree canopy.
A "normal" GPS has reception problems under tree canopy. The Edge 305
compensates this with the reading from the wheel-sensor together with a
internal magnetic compass.

Greetings, Urs

Urs Weder said:

MattB said:

I've been thinking about a new GPS for a while, as well as a new bike
computer (yes, I know some of you think they are stupid) and I see
Garmin makes a couple of units designed to be bike computers. I like the
idea, and it would make switching between bikes easier because I
wouldn't have to remember to reset the wheel size.
I'm thinking the Edge 205 would be plenty. The 305 also has a HRM and
cadence sensor which I doubt I'd ever use.
Any first-hand experiences out there?

Thanks,
Matt

Hi Matt,
i use the Edge 305 since 3 weeks. I use it together with the
cadence/wheel sensor which increases its reception highly especially
under tree canopy.
A "normal" GPS has reception problems under tree canopy. The Edge 305
compensates this with the reading from the wheel-sensor together with a
internal magnetic compass.

Greetings, Urs

That sounds pretty cool. Hmmm.... new toy in my future?

Probably not since buying an SF home is going to kill any toy money.

--
o-o-o-o Ride-A-Lot o-o-o-o
www.schnauzers.ws

GeeDubb said:

"MattB" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I've been thinking about a new GPS for a while, as well as a new bike
computer (yes, I know some of you think they are stupid) and I see
Garmin makes a couple of units designed to be bike computers. I like
the idea, and it would make switching between bikes easier because I
wouldn't have to remember to reset the wheel size.
I'm thinking the Edge 205 would be plenty. The 305 also has a HRM and
cadence sensor which I doubt I'd ever use.
Any first-hand experiences out there?

Thanks,
Matt

no experience with this particular model but I use an Etrex Legend
(about $100 less expensive). In reading the Garmin website it seems
like there's not much difference other than the virtual racer function
and software that allows training input. All else appears to allow
similar inputs for mapping but not sure about the extent of allowable
mapping for say a car trip. Looks to have better reception capabilities
which is a plus since I've lost signal on tree canopy covered rides. I
don't like the internal LI battery and would rather have AA's but that's
just me. On a long week of mtbing the Li battery would need to be
recharged, sometimes not practical.

I have an older Etrex too, and it's ok, but I wouldn't want to mount it
on my handlebars (too bulky, too many menus to see your info).
What looks appealing about the Edge is having all your typical
information you'd have with a standard bike computer available at a
glance. From what I've read it's no good for navigation, but I typically
use a GPS to map my route afterwards anyway.
The battery doesn't bother me, I kind of like the idea of the
rechargeable. Now if it could do both that would be ideal. I think I
have all the necessary stuff to build a travel charger hooked to a 3600
mAh Li pack or my car that would travel well enough.

Quoted message said:

I wish my GPS had a USB interface since most of the newer computers
don't have serial ports any more.......can you say expensive adapter?

Do you only have a laptop? If you have a desktop serial ports are cheap:
<http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16815166003>

Thanks for the info,

Matt

"Urs Weder" <UrsWeder_@_hotmail_._com> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

MattB said:

I've been thinking about a new GPS for a while, as well as a new bike
computer (yes, I know some of you think they are stupid) and I see
Garmin makes a couple of units designed to be bike computers. I like the
idea, and it would make switching between bikes easier because I
wouldn't have to remember to reset the wheel size.
I'm thinking the Edge 205 would be plenty. The 305 also has a HRM and
cadence sensor which I doubt I'd ever use.
Any first-hand experiences out there?

Thanks,
Matt

Hi Matt,
i use the Edge 305 since 3 weeks. I use it together with the
cadence/wheel sensor which increases its reception highly especially
under tree canopy.
A "normal" GPS has reception problems under tree canopy. The Edge 305
compensates this with the reading from the wheel-sensor together with a
internal magnetic compass.

Greetings, Urs

Are any of these in this price range with
a "voice" to tell you to "turn left", "turn right",
"go straight" etc?

--
- Zilla
Cary, NC USA
(Remove XSPAM)

Zilla said:

"Urs Weder" <UrsWeder_@_hotmail_._com> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

MattB said:

I've been thinking about a new GPS for a while, as well as a new bike
computer (yes, I know some of you think they are stupid) and I see
Garmin makes a couple of units designed to be bike computers. I like the
idea, and it would make switching between bikes easier because I
wouldn't have to remember to reset the wheel size.
I'm thinking the Edge 205 would be plenty. The 305 also has a HRM and
cadence sensor which I doubt I'd ever use.
Any first-hand experiences out there?

Thanks,
Matt

Hi Matt,
i use the Edge 305 since 3 weeks. I use it together with the
cadence/wheel sensor which increases its reception highly especially
under tree canopy.
A "normal" GPS has reception problems under tree canopy. The Edge 305
compensates this with the reading from the wheel-sensor together with a
internal magnetic compass.

Greetings, Urs

Are any of these in this price range with
a "voice" to tell you to "turn left", "turn right",
"go straight" etc?

No. The handhelds don't do that with the exception of the model that is
built into an iPaq or Palm. If your looking for a car unit, I suggest
the TomTom 3000. It's a great little unit that even has bluetooth.

--
o-o-o-o Ride-A-Lot o-o-o-o
www.schnauzers.ws

"MattB" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I've been thinking about a new GPS for a while, as well as a new bike
computer (yes, I know some of you think they are stupid) and I see Garmin
makes a couple of units designed to be bike computers. I like the idea,
and it would make switching between bikes easier because I wouldn't have
to remember to reset the wheel size.
I'm thinking the Edge 205 would be plenty. The 305 also has a HRM and
cadence sensor which I doubt I'd ever use.
Any first-hand experiences out there?

Thanks,
Matt

I have been using an Edge 305 for 2 months now and I have been very pleased
with it.

The Edge is very good for recording gps data of your rides but is not so
good for navigation. (It is a training aid/cycle computer) There are no
maps, directions, ect. The only way to really navigate with the Edge are:
backtracking, the compass and following loaded courses. Courses can be
created from previous rides that you have done, this guys site/utility
http://www.bradculberson.com/cc/map.html (he works for motionbased.com which
is owned by Garmin) and soon you will be able to export other peoples rides
as courses from www.motionbased.com . Motionbased has a very active Edge
forum and is a good place to get up to speed on what the Edge will/wont do
and known issues. (The Edge has user upgradeable firmware so as issues come
up Garmin can release fixes-- in the two months I have had mine Garmin has
two firmware upgrades.)

I bought the whole 305 package with heart rate monitor and speed/cadence
sensor. I really wanted the heart rate monitor-- I only got the cadence
sensor because the bundle with everything was just a few bucks more. I am
glad I did, I put the cadence sensor on my road bike where I have found it
useful. I ride alternating between maintaining heart rate,speed and cadence.
It is kinda fun on long rides, helps me mix things up a bit. On the mountain
bike it works just the same-- only difference is it uses gps for speed and
don't get a cadence reading.

The unit comes with two handle bar mounts, usb cord and ac charger. The unit
has a built in battery which is supposed to last 12 hours between
charges.(Seems to) It can be set up for three different bikes. The display
is highly user configurable and can display ride data (up to 16 fields on
two screens), courses, compass, elevation profile, virtual partner and some
other stuff I am forgetting.

One of the advantages of the 305 over the 205, beside ability to use the HR
and S/C sensors, is the 305 has a barometric altimeter. From what I have
read barometric is greatly superior over gps for these things.

The biggest issues I have had with the 305 are speed and distance spikes
exiting tunnels and the virtual partner function in it's current
configuration is useless. Garmin is aware of both-- the firmware release
2.40 was to have fixed the speed/distance spikes. It did not-- but it is
better. The vp issue has not been addressed yet. The vp runs based on data
contained in a courses created from previous rides. If I had to stop on the
previous ride the vp stops even though I may continuing on the current ride.
It makes it very difficult to race if we are both stopping at different
places and times. Supposed to be fixed in future releases.

You can see some of my ride here www.bodenet.net/rides I had knee surgery
over the winter (too many moguls over the years) so I have been mostly a
roadie thus far this year. Below the maps should be links (if they are
working-- motionbased has been having server issues) to my data on
motionbased.com there you can see lap info, elevation, heart rate...... HTH

Steve

SuperPoo wrote:
<snip a ton of good stuff>

Quoted message said:

Steve

Wow! That gives me a lot to think about. Thanks!

Matt

No I don't we live in a high tech cyber world. While your at it you
can buy me one too. Not the bike I've got my hands full with them. LAST
count was 8.

Quoted message said:

That sounds pretty cool. Hmmm.... new toy in my future?

Probably not since buying an SF home is going to kill any toy money.

so you pulled the trigger? cool. good luck with the new position!

"Ride-A-Lot" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Zilla said:

"Urs Weder" <UrsWeder_@_hotmail_._com> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

MattB wrote:
> I've been thinking about a new GPS for a while, as well as a new bike
> computer (yes, I know some of you think they are stupid) and I see
> Garmin makes a couple of units designed to be bike computers. I like

the

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> idea, and it would make switching between bikes easier because I
> wouldn't have to remember to reset the wheel size.
> I'm thinking the Edge 205 would be plenty. The 305 also has a HRM and
> cadence sensor which I doubt I'd ever use.
> Any first-hand experiences out there?
>
> Thanks,
> Matt
Hi Matt,
i use the Edge 305 since 3 weeks. I use it together with the
cadence/wheel sensor which increases its reception highly especially
under tree canopy.
A "normal" GPS has reception problems under tree canopy. The Edge 305
compensates this with the reading from the wheel-sensor together with a
internal magnetic compass.

Greetings, Urs

Are any of these in this price range with
a "voice" to tell you to "turn left", "turn right",
"go straight" etc?

No. The handhelds don't do that with the exception of the model that is
built into an iPaq or Palm. If your looking for a car unit, I suggest
the TomTom 3000. It's a great little unit that even has bluetooth.

--
o-o-o-o Ride-A-Lot o-o-o-o
www.schnauzers.ws

Ok thanks - I was looking for a handhed, or a bar-mounted one
that did that. I wanted one for road riding.

--
- Zilla
Cary, NC USA
(Remove XSPAM)

"MattB" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

GeeDubb said:

"MattB" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I've been thinking about a new GPS for a while, as well as a new bike
computer (yes, I know some of you think they are stupid) and I see
Garmin makes a couple of units designed to be bike computers. I like the
idea, and it would make switching between bikes easier because I
wouldn't have to remember to reset the wheel size.
I'm thinking the Edge 205 would be plenty. The 305 also has a HRM and
cadence sensor which I doubt I'd ever use.
Any first-hand experiences out there?

Thanks,
Matt

no experience with this particular model but I use an Etrex Legend (about
$100 less expensive). In reading the Garmin website it seems like
there's not much difference other than the virtual racer function and
software that allows training input. All else appears to allow similar
inputs for mapping but not sure about the extent of allowable mapping for
say a car trip. Looks to have better reception capabilities which is a
plus since I've lost signal on tree canopy covered rides. I don't like
the internal LI battery and would rather have AA's but that's just me.
On a long week of mtbing the Li battery would need to be recharged,
sometimes not practical.

I have an older Etrex too, and it's ok, but I wouldn't want to mount it on
my handlebars (too bulky, too many menus to see your info).
What looks appealing about the Edge is having all your typical information
you'd have with a standard bike computer available at a glance. From what
I've read it's no good for navigation, but I typically use a GPS to map my
route afterwards anyway.
The battery doesn't bother me, I kind of like the idea of the
rechargeable. Now if it could do both that would be ideal. I think I have
all the necessary stuff to build a travel charger hooked to a 3600 mAh Li
pack or my car that would travel well enough.

I guess I got use to my gps on the handlebars. I usually just leave it on
the trip computer screen which shows everything my bike computer has w/o
having to cycle through the different modes. The only thing the gps doesn't
have is a total elevation gain reading (and cadence but who cares).

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I wish my GPS had a USB interface since most of the newer computers don't
have serial ports any more.......can you say expensive adapter?

Do you only have a laptop? If you have a desktop serial ports are cheap:
<http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16815166003>

I've got both and the dt has a sp but the new laptop I got did not so I had
to buy a stupid adapter. It's a little inconvenient to drag along the ds on
a road trip.........

Gary

Ride-A-Lot said:

No. The handhelds don't do that with the exception of the model that is
built into an iPaq or Palm. If your looking for a car unit, I suggest
the TomTom 3000. It's a great little unit that even has bluetooth.

--
o-o-o-o Ride-A-Lot o-o-o-o
www.schnauzers.ws

Do you mean the TomTom GO 300? If so, it is a good device. I use the
GO 700 and really like it. They just came out with two new devices as
well that are supposed to be really solid, the 510 and 910.

Quoted message said:

Ride-A-Lot said:

No. The handhelds don't do that with the exception of the model that is
built into an iPaq or Palm. If your looking for a car unit, I suggest
the TomTom 3000. It's a great little unit that even has bluetooth.

--
o-o-o-o Ride-A-Lot o-o-o-o
www.schnauzers.ws

Do you mean the TomTom GO 300? If so, it is a good device. I use the
GO 700 and really like it. They just came out with two new devices as
well that are supposed to be really solid, the 510 and 910.

Yes. That's the one. The 910 is cool. I like the whole bluetooth
handsfree calling that is integrated. Great units and great price.

--
o-o-o-o Ride-A-Lot o-o-o-o
www.schnauzers.ws

GeeDubb <[email hidden]> wrote:

: "MattB" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
: news:[email hidden]...
:> I've been thinking about a new GPS for a while, as well as a new bike
:> computer (yes, I know some of you think they are stupid) and I see Garmin
:> makes a couple of units designed to be bike computers. I like the idea,
:> and it would make switching between bikes easier because I wouldn't have
:> to remember to reset the wheel size.
:> I'm thinking the Edge 205 would be plenty. The 305 also has a HRM and
:> cadence sensor which I doubt I'd ever use.
:> Any first-hand experiences out there?
:>
:> Thanks,
:> Matt

: no experience with this particular model but I use an Etrex Legend (about
: $100 less expensive). In reading the Garmin website it seems like there's
: not much difference other than the virtual racer function and software that
: allows training input. All else appears to allow similar inputs for mapping
: but not sure about the extent of allowable mapping for say a car trip.
: Looks to have better reception capabilities which is a plus since I've lost
: signal on tree canopy covered rides. I don't like the internal LI battery
: and would rather have AA's but that's just me. On a long week of mtbing the
: Li battery would need to be recharged, sometimes not practical.

Just one comment here (I was reading this because I too am in the market for
a new GPS, I have a old Garmin 12), for scout campouts where we are gone
sometimes for a week at a time with no A/C, I carry one of those portable
car jumper devices and a DC/AC converter (I don't have a car charger) so we
can charge up our phones as needed (we use the phones as much as the
talkabouts sometimes depending on terrain).

: I wish my GPS had a USB interface since most of the newer computers don't
: have serial ports any more.......can you say expensive adapter?

http://sewelldirect.com/usbtoserial.asp is $17 for a USB to serial adapter.

--
John Nelson
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chicago Area Paddling/Fishing Page
http://www.chicagopaddling.org http://www.chicagofishing.org
(A Non-Commercial Web Site: No Sponsors, No Paid Ads and Nothing to Sell)

"Chicago Paddling-Fishing" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

: I wish my GPS had a USB interface since most of the newer computers
don't
: have serial ports any more.......can you say expensive adapter?

http://sewelldirect.com/usbtoserial.asp is $17 for a USB to serial
adapter.

--
John Nelson

Ouch, now you tell me. I actually needed mine for a trip last summer and
couldn't wait to order one (bought the computer the week I was leaving).
Found one locally (CompUSA) for about $45.

Thanks for the link, though. I need a usb-parallel adapter.

Gary

GeeDubb <[email hidden]> wrote:

: "Chicago Paddling-Fishing" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
: news:[email hidden]...

:>
:> : I wish my GPS had a USB interface since most of the newer computers
:> don't
:> : have serial ports any more.......can you say expensive adapter?
:>
:> http://sewelldirect.com/usbtoserial.asp is $17 for a USB to serial
:> adapter.
:>
:>
:> --
:> John Nelson

: Ouch, now you tell me. I actually needed mine for a trip last summer and
: couldn't wait to order one (bought the computer the week I was leaving).
: Found one locally (CompUSA) for about $45.

: Thanks for the link, though. I need a usb-parallel adapter.

Well, I orderd a garmin vista Cx... i sort of liked the idea of not needing
a PC to change maps (it uses mini-SD cards so you can load it via PC or
with a pre-programmed card). I got one map card that covers my state and
several more...

Meanwhile... I found my old Magellan 2000, loaded new batteries in it and
took the dog for a walk around the park.. I think the park is .25 to .5 miles
if you take the sidewalk however, it seems to think I walked 27.6 miles...
(maybe old 3 channel GPS's aren't so good anymore).

--
John Nelson
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chicago Area Paddling/Fishing Page
http://www.chicagopaddling.org http://www.chicagofishing.org
(A Non-Commercial Web Site: No Sponsors, No Paid Ads and Nothing to Sell)